Will campaign against alcohol in other states, if invited, says Nitish Kumar

Patna: Buoyed by the success of total prohibition in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said, if invited, he would visit other states to campaign against alcohol.

"If some group invites me in any programme against liquor I will accept and campaign against alcohol sale and consumption there," Kumar told reporters.

His assertions come in the backdrop of reports of liquor trade getting a boost in neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand after Bihar was declared a complete dry state on April 5.

The Chief Minister said the state government has requested Shashtra Seema Suraksha Bal to intensify vigil against liquor trade at the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar.

Asked whether he would like the ban on sale and consumption of alcohol be implemented across the country, Kumar said, "I will be happy if this happen. The social movement arising out of liquor ban in Bihar would spread to other parts and state after state would go for prohibition."

In response to a question whether he was getting assistance from Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, to whom he had written asking for cooperation for successful implementation of the prohibition, Kumar shot back, "They (the two neighbouring states) have encouraged opening of more liquor outlets in border areas, this is the assistance we got."

In reply to a question that reports suggest that there was now demand for psychotropic substances like cough syrup, narcotic drugs and ganja in the border districts of Kisanganj, Araria and Purnea, he said all these substances come under the Liquor Policy, 2016 on the basis of which the prohibition was imposed.

"The state government can take decision on stopping use of such medicines," he added.

The Bihar Chief minister had on April 5 announced a complete ban on sale and consumption of liquor, including domestic and spiced as well Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL).